Corbin science teacher awarded as one of nation’s best

Corbin Elementary School Sciene Teacher Andrea Broyles instructs her students during classes Monday.

Corbin Elementary School fourth graders already knew that they had one of the best science teachers in the nation. Now, so does the rest of the country as Andrea Broyles is one of 85 teachers who will receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

"The teachers we honor today have demonstrated uncommon skill and devotion in the classroom, nurturing the young minds of tomorrow’s science and math leaders," said President Barack Obama.

Broyles, who is originally from Graves County, is in her eighth year teaching in the Corbin Independent School System.
She said one of the things that allows her to be successful as a science teacher is that beginning in fourth grade, Corbin Elementary is departmentalized like the high school. Students have different teachers for different subjects.

"I just focus on science," Broyles said.

That focus allows her to do more hands-on things with her students.

Broyles said the hands-on approach can pay off in the future as her students spend the year studying life science, meteorology, electricity and magnetism.

"I believe in doing science, not just reading and writing," Broyles said of her teaching philosophy. "I have very high expectations."

With so many options for lab experiments, it is the perfect opportunity to create the next generation of scientist.

"I have one chance to get them interested," Broyles explained.

Broyles added that it makes her job easier knowing she has the support of both school and district administrators.

Broyles noted that Corbin Elementary Principal Sharon Ball has been in her shoes, having taught middle school science.
"She scared me to death," Broyles said of her first meetings with Ball.

However, Broyles said her perception of Ball quickly changed to one of respect.

"She nominated me for the first teaching award I received in 2007," Broyles said of Ball. "That meant the world to me."
The respect goes both ways.

"Andrea is very deserving," Ball said. "It is hard to find good science teachers. She is well versed and always has something hands-on going in her classroom."

Broyles said it is a combination of things that makes the learning environment at Corbin Independent Schools so great, including the involvement of parents, the high expectations and the way teachers work together to ensure students are meeting and exceeding expectations.

Corbin Assistant Superintendent Brenda Hammons said Broyles is a perfect example for anyone who wants to be a teacher because she not only teaches, she engages her students.

"Andrea loves math and science," Hammons said. "That is her specialty."

Broyles’ journey to the award began with someone nominating her. However, the nomination was made anonymously, so she will never know who it was.

She then had to design and teach a lesson dispelling a common science misconception. With one of her focuses on magnets, Broyles did a lesson about the misconception that magnets will attract anything made of metal.

She sent the video and the remainder of the application to Washington, D.C.

When she was first notified that she had won, she thought it could have been a joke.

"I have been getting some really bizarre e-mails," Broyles said. "I was asked to write an official statement about what the award means to me."

Broyles and the other winners will travel to Washington, D.C. where they will meet President Obama. While she is excited about the trip, she said she is more excited for her husband, Dwight, who has never been to Washington.

In addition to the trip, Broyles and the other winners will each receive $10,000 from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion.

Broyles said she isn’t sure what she will do with the money.